by fuppofing, with the generality of commentators, and with our tranflators themselves, that Ahaz concluded his answer, by saying,

"I will not tempt the Lord ?"

This would be, to render the fentence liable to the fame objections, as the foregoing glofs.-It would be, to render it totally inconfiftent with the character of the impious Ahaz, and only worthy of the lips of the holy David.-No,--the whole of his answer was perfectly confiftent with itself, and his own impiety.

"I will not afk, neither will I "MAKE TRIAL* of the Lord."

A fentence, which, though it makes us fhudder at it's blafphemy, is however, the only one, which could come confiftently from the idolatrous mouth of Ahaz.

Can you then now wonder, my brethren, that all former commen tators, fhould have intirely misconceived the whole intent of this prophecy, when every one of them has paffed over uncorrected, fo grofs a mistake in the tranflation?

After this answer of the king's, which fo fully proclaimed the unconquerable stubbornnefs and impiety of his heart, it would have been in vain for the Prophet, to have faid any thing more to Ahaz fingly, he, therefore, addreffed himself to the whole house of David.

13.

"Hear ye now, O houfe of "David!"-Aroufing their attention to the great importance of what he was about to deliver, by the earneftness and folemnity of the introduction.

What follows, then, this awful call? Not furely, as our English tranflators have rendered it?

"Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my "God also ?"

For, can any one conceive any thing, to which the former part of this fentence can refer ?-Not to the Prophet Ifaiah, or the other Prophets, is evident. For they were only, as it were, the voice of God speaking to the people, and the declaration of their wearinefs, therefore, could not be feparated from that of God.

The Prophet fays, however, no fuch thing. But, with the ftri&teft

propriety,

propriety, in reference to their late defeat, to what Ahaz had juft faid, -and likewife, to that ftupendous miracle, the Prophet was about to foretell, he fays,

"Do you not find it a difficult thing to contend for victory with men ?*—how, then, and by what means, are you to contend against "God."

tr

The Prophet, then, rapt into futurity, and the continued hardness of their hearts being laid open to

him,

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